Friday , March 29 2024
Scarlett Johansson and I have only one thing in common. We both can't sing.

Music Review: Scarlett Johansson – Anywhere I Lay My Head

So, what does one of the most beautiful women in the world, who also happens to be a respected actress, do in her spare time? She produces an album of Tom Waits cover songs.

I have always been fascinated by the fact that successful people want to be successful elsewhere as well. Actors want to be singers, singers want to be athletes, and athletes want to act. Sometimes people just don’t know when to be satisfied.

Scarlett Johansson is the latest actress to cut an album. The problem is just because you can does not mean you should. It makes me wonder if she has anyone in her life or on her staff to tell her no. I can almost hear Scarlett announcing; “I’m going to make an album.” “What a great idea.” “I am going to make an album of Tom Waits songs.” “What a really great idea.” And so the album Anywhere I Lay My Head was born. Too many times people forget that no is an operative word in the English language.

The first hint of possible trouble comes in the liner notes where it is announced that Scarlett Johansson’s vocals are positioned inside the music rather than on top of it. The translation is she is trying to hide less than stellar vocals in the mix.

The instrumental “Fawn” begins the album. It sounds like an organ recital that you would hear at a church funeral service.

“Town With No Cheer” sets the instrumental tone of the album which is an electronic foundation. Scarlett Johansson announces in the album’s notes that she has re-imagined some Tom Waits songs. Re-imaginging Tom Waits may or may not be a good idea but an overload of electronic sound is a singularly bad idea for his songs.

By the time “Falling Down” rolls around the mechanical nature of Miss Johansson’s vocals have begun to wear on the listener. “Anywhere I Lay My Head” continues the vocal problems as it is basically a droning sound.

Scarlett Johansson is likeable. She is personable and a good interview. She has managed to avoid the tabloids and scandals that have plagued other actresses her age. Hopefully Anywhere I Lay My Head will be an anomaly in the career of Scarlett Johansson.

Many people would love to be considered beautiful. Thousands of people yearn to be a talented and successful actor or actress. Multitudes of people would like to produce a creative and popular album. Scarlett Johansson will have to settle for two out of three.

About David Bowling

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